A Proposal on Critical Appraisal: Choosing and Evaluating Studies

Overview of Critical Appraisal

The topic you choose should be in an area which has a body of research literature, based on previous empirical investigation and published in peer-reviewed journals. Consideration needs to be given to the topic’s applicability, the feasibility, appropriateness and whether it has currency as a problem or issue in practice.

· Discussion regarding what critical appraisal is and its purpose

· Overview of the structure of the remainder of the essay (subheadings may be used to help distinguish one section from another).

· Rationale for the topic of the proposal is provided and the associated question being asked is clearly formulated and stated.

· Brief discussion of relevant guidelines or policies (e.g. NICE) 15% Overview of how the two included studies were chosen (suggested ~ 350 words)

· An overview of the steps taken to arrive at the two chosen studies supported by literature drawn from appropriate sources

· This should include: databases accessed, search terms used (this may be in the form of a table), inclusion and exclusion criteria (this may be in the form of a table), how the final two studies were selected and which data will be extracted from these.

· An overview of how many studies were identified by the search strategy and why the final two studies were chosen for inclusion in the proposal. 15% Critical summary of the two chosen studies

· Provide a critical summary of each of the chosen studies (e.g. research design used, sample sizes if relevant, who the participants were, the key findings)

· Use relevant research terminology to support the summaries 10%

· Provide a critical evaluation of the methodological quality of the two chosen studies (with supporting literature drawn from appropriate sources)

· Use a relevant critiquing tool with rationale

· Use key research terminology where appropriate (with supporting literature drawn from appropriate sources) 20%

Synthesis of findings and reflection on practice (suggested ~ 600 words)

· Discussion related to how the findings of the two chosen studies relate to one another. Do they differ, agree, etc.?

· Discussion related to how the findings of the two chosen studies relate to other literature and relevant guidelines and policies.

· Reflection on the term “evidence-based practice” including what sort of evidence regarding the chosen topic has been produced by the two included studies.

· Consideration given to how the findings might influence practice and/or any difficulties that might be encountered when trying to implement the findings in practice i.e. acknowledgment of the difficulties encountered when translating research into practice and what the barriers and facilitators might be.

Discussion related to how the findings of the two chosen studies relate to one another

Discussion related to how the findings of the two chosen studies relate to other literature and relevant guidelines and policies.

Reflection on the term “evidence-based practice” including what sort of evidence regarding the chosen topic has been produced by the two included studies.

Consideration given to how the findings might influence practice and/or any difficulties that might be encountered when trying to implement the findings in practice i.e. acknowledgment of the difficulties encountered when translating research into practice and what the barriers and facilitators might be.

Excellent discussion related to how the findings of the two chosen studies relate to one another and how the findings of the two chosen studies relate to other literature and relevant guidelines and policies.

Very good reflection on the term “evidencebased practice” including what sort of evidence regarding the chosen topic has been produced by the two included studies.

Very good consideration given to how the findings might influence practice and/or any difficulties that might be encountered when trying to implement the findings in practice i.e. acknowledgment of the difficulties encountered when translating research into practice and what the barriers and facilitators might be.

Good discussion related to how the findings of the two chosen studies relate to one another and how the findings of the two chosen studies relate to other literature and relevant guidelines and policies.

Good reflection on the term “evidencebased practice” including what sortof evidence regarding the chosen topic has been produced by the two included studies.

Good consideration given to how the findings might influence practice and/or any difficulties that might be encountered when trying to implementthe findings in practice i.e. acknowledgment of the difficulties encountered when translating research into practice and

Reasonable discussion related to how the findings of the two chosenstudies relate to oneanother and how the findings of the two chosen studies relate to other literature and relevant guidelines and policies.

Reasonable reflection on the term “evidence-based practice” including what sort of evidence regarding the chosen topic has beenproduced by the two included studies. Reasonable consideration given to how the findings might influencepractice and/or any difficulties that might be encountered when trying to implement the findings in practice i.e. acknowledgment of the difficulties encountered when translating research  into practice and what the barriers and facilitators might be